New ‘fast service’ bus to connect Canary Wharf and Lewisham
By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter
Transport for London (TfL) has announced that two bus routes will make use of the Silvertown Tunnel, including a new express service to Canary Wharf.
The X239 is a new “fast service” that will start at Grove Park in Lewisham.
Buses will use the A102 before turning into the Silvertown Tunnel and will be non-stop from the Sun in the Sands pub in Blackheath to Canary Wharf.
There will also be an extension to the existing 129 route, which will run to Great Eastern Quays in Beckton, Newham.
The northern end of the route currently ends at North Greenwich Tube station, while the southern end will continue to terminate at Molesworth Street in Lewisham.
Rob Varney, head of public affairs for TfL, said at the meeting: “One of the commitments as part of the delivery of the Silvertown Tunnel is the implementation of a 20 bus per hour network running both through Blackwall and Silvertown.
“This is an initial proposal that we will start to consult on from November 16, and brings two new routes to the lines in addition to the currently running 108.”
Journalist Darryl Chamberlain asked at the meeting why the number of buses an hour using the tunnel had dropped to 20 from 37-and-a-half, which he said was initially included in TfL plans.
Mr Chamberlain said: “That bus network included five bus routes, we’re now presented with three. A couple were just going south of the river, so they don’t really concern us.
“But the one that’s been dropped is a bus from Eltham to Beckton via the Silvertown Tunnel, what’s happened?”
Mr Varney said that he would give Mr Chamberlain a personalised answer at a later time.
The consultation on the proposed bus routes involving the Silvertown Tunnel – as well as the 108 route which runs through the Blackwall Tunnel – will begin from November 16.
TfL was contacted for comment.
(Picture: TfL)
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We need more bus routes not less Cutting bus services will do nothing to ease traffic congestion, air pollution and encourage more active travel. .
InThe X239 from Grove Park to Canary Wharf would be better as a stopping service between Grove Park and Greenwich Peninsula them non stop to Canary Wharf with buses running about every 6 to 8 minutes peak hours and day times and every 10 minutes Evenings, Sundays and Public Holidays.
The new route between Beckton to Eltham via Silvertown Tunnel, Greenwich Peninsula, Charlton, Woolwich, Woolwich Common, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Eltham Well Hall Road, Eltham High Street still needs to go ahead. it would serve many new housing developments at Greenwich Peninsula Charlton Riverside and Woolwich As well as North of the river.
The Mayor For London promised the Silvertown Tunnel would be well served by Public Transport equalling 37.5 buses per hour. He needs to keep to his word as the Silvertown Tunnel still remains a bone of contention with many many people both sides of the River..
No one wanted the Silvertown Tunnel so now it has been thrust upon us. The least Sadiq Khan Mayor of London and TFL can do is make sure it is well used by Public Transport by going a head with all the original planned bus services to serve the Silvertown Tunnel. The area already suffers with very heavy traffic congestion and high levels of air pollution on both sides of the river by the Blackwall Tunnel this double when the Silvertown Tunnel opens. Unless we see major improvements to public transport through both the Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels and surrounding areas to also serve new housing developments both sides of the river. I believe to cut the number of bus services serving the Silvertown Tunnel will be a cut too far for the current Mayor of London as people are already concerned about the levels of traffic congestion and air pollution in the areas they live since the Silvertown Tunnel was given the go ahead.